CHESHIRE police is among 31 forces supporting Suffolk Constabulary in its hunt for the serial killer responsible for the murder of five women.

Cheshire has sent four detective constables to help with one of the biggest police operations to date, centred on Ipswich, which has stretched the resources of the Suffolk force.

A total of 500 officers are working on the case carrying out door-to-door inquiries, taking thousands of phone calls, collating and analysing evidence and examining 10,000 hours of tape from security cameras.

Cheshire spokesman Glyn Hellam said: 'We have four DCs down there to help with door-to-door inquiries and things of that nature. Whenever any force has a major inquiry they can call upon resources from other forces.

'It's not impacting on our work at all. Potentially they will be there for a month. If extra resources are required they can make that request to us.'

Police have this week been questioning two men arrested over the murders of the five prostitutes.

The first suspect, Tom Stephens, 37, was arrested on Monday. A second man being held was named locally as 48-year-old Stephen Wright.